OBJECTIVE: Sarcoidosis is a multisystem chronic disease characterized by granulomatous inflammation. It is reported that the frequency of other inflammatory and malignant diseases increases. The primary objective of the study is to determine the types of comorbid diseases and their frequency, and whether the risk of malignancies and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid increases. The secondary objective is to identify the factors related to the comorbidities frequently detected.
METHODS: The files of 694 patients who had the diagnosis of sarcoidosis between1998-2016 were evaluated. The frequency of comorbid diseases recorded was compared to the data of our country.
RESULTS: Among the patients, 487 (70%) were female, and the mean age at diagnosis was 42.9 ± 11.8 (18-87). In 490 patients (70%) at least one comorbidity was detected. The most frequently detected comorbidities were systemic hypertension (22%), hepatosteatosis (16.9%), diabetes mellitus (16.4%), thyroid diseases (13.1%), and asthma (12%). Malignancy was found in a ratio of 4.0%, rheumatoid arthritis in 2.2%. The comparison to the frequencies across the country showed that the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, thyroid diseases, asthma, malignancy, and rheumatoid arthritis was higher. Diabetes, thyroid diseases, asthma were more frequent in women. The mean age of patients in which diabetes, thyroid diseases, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis or malignancy was detected as a comorbidity was higher than those without comorbidities.
CONCLUSION: Comorbidities frequently occur among sarcoidosis patients, and the frequency of diabetes mellitus, thyroid diseases, asthma, malignancy, and rheumatoid arthritis is higher than the data of the country.